Mulbah rushes for 364 yard, 4 TDs, leads Pennsbury to 1st win over North Penn since 1996

TOWAMENCIN >> From his first carry to his 48th, Galamama Mulbah seemed to only get stronger.

“I’m not tired at all,” the Pennsbury senior said with a big smile after leading the way to a landmark win over rival North Penn. “I could rush for a hundred more yards.”

Mulbah’s heroics, which included a whopping 364 rushing yards and four touchdowns, powered the Falcons to a 44-34 victory over the Knights in a Suburban One League National Conference battle at chilly Crawford Stadium.

The win sent the Falcons to a 5-0 mark in the conference and was the program’s first victory over North Penn since 1996.

“This is the best game I’ve ever had in my life,” said Mulbah, who hammered away for TD runs of one, 13, 33 and 42 yards. “All the credit goes to my line and the coaches. All the guys played a very good game today, and I just fed off of that.”

Said Mulbah of his workload Friday night: “I love it. I love coming in clutch for my team. It’s not just me. It’s really a team effort. The offense came out today and wanted to win this game.”

Pennsbury raised its overall record to 7-1 and now gets ready for a home game with Abington. North Penn (3-5, 2-3 SOL National), which got 314 yards and four touchdowns from quarterback Ryan Zeltt, is at Pennridge next week.

The Falcons led from start to finish and broke the game open in the second half. Outside of a last-minute possession in the first half and a clock-killing series in the final seconds, Pennsbury scored every time it had the ball.

After leading by two at halftime, the Falcons extended to a 27-19 lead on a 52-yard touchdown run by Nathan Beighley. A 23-yard field goal by Dan Zelenko later made it 30-19 early in the fourth.

Mulbah then broke free for touchdown runs of 33 and 42 yards to put the game out of reach.

“I definitely got stronger (as the game went on). I went into the locker room, and I just mentally locked in for the game,” he said. “This is from all the hard work that coach (Galen) Snyder put us through, all the discipline. It’s just great coaching, and we’re players that want to win. It just goes together.”

Mulbah broke out left for a gain of 36 yards on the first play from scrimmage.

“I felt great after that first carry,” he said. “I came into the game wanting to provide some extra motivation for us. And I felt that first carry did that.”

Immediately in scoring range at the North Penn 26, Mulbah had the next three carries, powering the Falcons down to the 14.

Nathan Beighly, Eric David and Mulbah all contributed gains to move the ball to the Knights’ one, and from there, quarterback Shane McGurrin snuck in to make it 7-0 Pennsbury midway through the first quarter.

North Penn answered right back.

The Knights moved it primarily through the air. Zeltt zipped passes to Rashad McNeil, Yazeed Haynes and James Mangine, who caught a six-yard toss from Zeltt to bring the Knights within 7-6. There it would stay, as the extra-point attempt was no good.

Pennsbury scored again on its second series to increase its lead.

Mulbah grinded out a yard on a crucial 4th-and-1 at the Pennsbury 38, pushing the Falcons on their way.

Also key on the drive was a 20-yard gain by McGurrin.

Mulbah powered in from the one, making it 14-6 Pennsbury.

Back came the Knights.

A 23-yard connection from Zeltt to Yazeed Haynes, and an 18-yard run by Amir Major were pivotal for the Knights. Major powered in from five yards out, cutting the deficit to 14-12.

The Knights went for two, but the pass play fell short.

More Mulbah had Pennsbury on the move again.

This time, he dashed into the end zone from 13 yards out, giving the Falcons a two-possession lead at 21-12.

North Penn scored a crucial touchdown before the half though, running an efficient two-minute drill that culminated with a five-yard toss from Zeltt to Haynes (150 yds).

Zeltt’s 13-yard strike to Haynes on a 2nd-and-10 from the 33 – with Zeltt under pressure and on the move – was key to the drive.

Pennsbury went into the locker room ahead 21-19 at the break.

In the fourth, Zeltt hit McNeil (105 yds) for a 22-yard TD and Haynes for a 53-yard score to get the Knights within 37-26 and later 44-34, but Mulbah and the Falcons would not be stopped.

Pennsbury 44, North Penn 34

Pennsbury 7 14 6 17 – 44

North Penn 6 13 0 15 – 34

First Quarter

P-Shane McGurrin 1 run (Dan Zelenko kick), 6:50.

NP-James Mangine 6 pass from Ryan Zeltt (kick failed), 4:40.

Second Quarter

P-Galamama Mulbah 1 run (Zelenko kick), 9:35.

NP-Amir Major 5 run (pass failed), 6:49.

P-Mulbah 13 run (Zelenko kick), 2:23.

NP-Yazeed Haynes 5 pass from Zeltt (Grace Macnamara kick), :46.

Third Quarter

P-Nathan Beighley 52 run (kick failed), 4:03.

Fourth Quarter

P-Zelenko 23 field goal, 9:43.

P-Mulbah 33 run (Zelenko kick), 6:51.

NP-McNeil 22 pass from Zeltt (Macnamara kick), 5:28.

P-Mulbah 42 run (Zelenko kick), 3:48.

NP-Haynes 53 pass from Zeltt (Zeltt run), 1:42.

P                       NP

First Downs                 22             19

Rushes-yards              57-450      18-80

Passing (c-a-i)             0-1-0        22-30-0

Passing yards              0              314

Total yards                   450          394

Punts                           0              0

Fumbles-lost                0-0           2-0

Penalties-yards            3-20         1-18

Rushing

P: Mulbah 48-364, 4 TD; Beighley 4-53, TD; Eric David 1-9; McGurrin 4-24, TD.

NP: Major 9-58, TD; Michai Cuffie 4-6; Zeltt 5-16.

Passing

P: McGurrin 0-1-0-0-0.

NP: Zeltt 22-30-314-4-0.

Receiving

P: None.

NP: McNeil 7-105, TD; Haynes 8-150, 2 TD; Cuffie 4-40; Mangine 1-6, TD; Xavier Bryan 2-13.